The last long weekend with glorious summer sunshine begins today, and with it epic journeys across the country.
Whether you're heading to the airport, trying to catch a train, or taking a picnic to the beach, we will give you the latest updates on all the main routes.
Delays on Friday hit two hours on the M5 and look like they will continue in that fashion today, as the county prepares itself for a long hot bank holiday.
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Key Events
Crash on the M5 near Bristol
We have this information from our colleagues at Bristol Live.
There has been a crash on the M5.
It’s northbound, just a couple of miles before junction 19 for Portishead, and is currently blocking one lane
The queue is currently back beyond the Clevedon junction (20) and halfway to Weston.
The queue is 7 miles long, and will take you around 20 minutes to get through.
Traffic has returned to normal
Traffic is looking all clear on the M5 in Gloucestershire at the moment.
Traffic has eased going to Weston
Travel time is now 45 minutes with long delays due to holiday traffic on M5 Southbound from J15 M4 J20 (Almondsbury Interchange) to J21 A370 (Weston-super-mare).
Slow traffic on M5 near Worcester
One lane closed and slow traffic due to accident on M5 Southbound from J5 A38 (Droitwich / Wychbold) to J6 A4538 Pershore Lane (Worcester).
Lane four (of four) is closed.
Travel time is still around 80 minutes
Long delays and very slow traffic due to holiday traffic on M5 Southbound from J14 B4509 (Thornbury / Falfield) to J21 A370 (Weston-super-mare). Travel time is around 80 minutes.
Motorists heading down south for the bank holiday weekend.
Travel time now 80 minutes
Long delays and very slow traffic due to holiday traffic on M5 Southbound from J14 B4509 (Thornbury / Falfield) to J21 A370 (Weston-super-mare). Travel time is around 80 minutes.
Long delays heading towards Birdlip
There’s queueing traffic on the A436 heading towards Birdlip from Seven Springs to the Air Balloon Roundabout. Travel time is four minutes.
Queueing traffic on A417 heading towards the Air Balloon Roundabout around Birdlip.
Traffic 'not moving' on M5
Traffic England’s map shows ‘not moving’ traffic (in black) going south on the M5.
Travel time now 70 MINUTES
From the M5 Southbound from J14 B4509 (Thornbury / Falfield) to J21 A370 (Weston-super-mare) travel time is 70 minutes.
Slow traffic near the Air Balloon
Queueing traffic on A436 heading towards Birdlip from Seven Springs to the Air Balloon Roundabout.
Slow traffic south on M5 from Thornbury
There is very slow traffic due to holiday traffic on M5 Southbound from J14 B4509 (Thornbury / Falfield) to J21 A370 (Weston-super-mare).
Motorists heading down south for the bank holiday weekend.
Accident on M5 this morning causing delays
Police were called to an accident on the M5 at around 6.30am today.
There was a single vehicle which spun in the carriageway on the M5 Southbound between J9 A46 (Tewkesbury) and J11 A40 (Gloucester / Golden Valley Bypass).
Police and ambulance attended but there were only reported to be minor injuries. The driver was taken to hospital.
No other vehicles were involved and the car has been recovered.
The incident is causing delays this morning.
Heavy traffic on M5 southbound
The weekend getaway has started.
There’s heavy traffic due to holiday traffic on M5 Southbound around J15 M4 J20 (Almondsbury Interchange).
Motorists heading down south for the bank holiday weekend.
Good morning
There are more delays already on the M5 this morning.
There is heavy traffic due to an accident, now on the hard shoulder on M5 Southbound from J9 A46 (Tewkesbury) to J11 A40 (Gloucester / Golden Valley Bypass). All lanes have been re-opened. Lane one (of three) was closed.
Air Balloon roundabout cleared
A436 at Birdlip: Road cleared and traffic returned to normal, accident cleared on A436 at A417 (Air Balloon Roundabout).
Latest traffic updates: Busy areas
These are the ongoing incidents on the region’s roads. More updates to follow shortly.
M5 - WORCESTERSHIRE - NORTHBOUND
Traffic easing, earlier accident on M5 Northbound at J8 M50, north of Tewkesbury.
Lane one (of three) was closed. All restrictions were lifted at around 17:40.
M4 - GLOUCESTERSHIRE - WESTBOUND
Very slow traffic due to holiday traffic on M4 Westbound from J19 M32 (Bristol) to J20 M5 J15 (Almondsbury Interchange).
A436 - BIRDLIP
A436 partially blocked, slow traffic due to accident, car and lorry involved at A417 (Air Balloon Roundabout).
Traffic 'getting so bad' Google is stepping in and diverting drivers
There is gridlock on parts of the M5 and M4 as motorists take to the roads as part of the great Bank Holiday getaway.
There are a number of issues currently on the roads, with the M5 in Gloucestershire affected as a result of an earlier car fire and an accident north of Tewkesbury.
The situation is reportedly so bad that for most of Friday afternoon, traffic monitoring apps were advising drivers to travel through the centre of Bristol instead of using the ‘Smart Motorway’ system on the M4 and M5 around the city.
Full story can be read here:
https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/bank-holiday-getaway-traffic-bad-3246322
Accident north of Tewkesbury on M5
One lane is closed and there is queueing traffic due to accident on M5 Northbound at J8 on the M50 in Worcestershire.
Congestion leads back to J9 (Tewkesbury), with travel time an estimated 15 minutes.
Lane one (of three) is closed.
Traffic using all three lanes
The Highways England website states that two lanes are still currently closed, although traffic cameras are showing traffic are now using all three lanes.
It states though that there are delays of 30 minutes as a result of the incident.
Highways England update
Highways England said in a tweet:
UPDATE M5 J15 Almondsbury to J14 Falfield Northbound, Avon Fire are on scene and dealt with the blaze, they currently have lanes 1 and 2 closed, please take care passing the scene
Highways England traffic cameras show a lot of water on the carriageway as a result.
M5 car fire causing significant delays in Gloucestershire
Two lanes are closed and there is slow traffic due to car fire on M5 Northbound before J14 B4509, (Thornbury/Falfield.)
Lanes one and two (of three) are closed and the car involved is on the hard shoulder. Fire services are at the scene.
Highways England traffic cameras are showing what looks like firefighters putting out the fire.
Police attend scene of collision at Air Balloon roundabout
Officers have been called to the Air Balloon roundabout to assist following a collision.
A spokesperson for Gloucestershire police:
Officers were called to the A417 at the Air Balloon roundabout just after 4.10pm today following reports of an RTC.
A lorry and a car have collided just before the roundabout from Swindon and it is causing some obstruction to the road.
Officers are at the scene trying to ensure the traffic continues to flow safely.
More updates to follow shortly.
Traffic building up
Traffic on the M5 Southbound carriageway is currently slow moving, as rush hour traffic mixes with holiday traffic.
This is the scene currently at J10:
There are similar scenes at J11 on the M5 Northbound carriageway near Gloucester:
Bank Holiday traffic
There are no incidents currently on the M5 in Gloucestershire, as people starting to make their moves and get away for the Bank Holiday.
Here is the scene currently at J9 on the M5:
Long delays around to Bristol
People from Gloucestershire making their Bank Holiday get away should be aware of a number of issues down the M5 towards Bristol:
There are reports of long delays and start stop traffic due to holiday traffic on the M5 Southbound between J15 M4 20 (Almondsbury Interchange) and J20 B3133 Ettlingen Way (Clevedon).
There is also very slow holiday traffic on the M4 Westbound from J18 A46 (Bath/Tormarton) to J20 M5 J15 (Almondsbury Interchange).
Crash near Stroud
One lane is closed and there is slow traffic due to a crash on the M5 northbound between junctions 14 (for the B4509 Thornbury/Falfield) to junction 13 (for the A419 Stroud).
This doesn't look good
The state of traffic across the South West today. Green lines are good, yellow lines: not so good; red lines, bad; black lines... good luck!
Travel time between Taunton and Cribbs Causeway is TWO HOURS
Travel
— Tone FM (@TauntonsToneFM) August 23, 2019
M5 Northbound heavy traffic and start stop in places between Wellington and Bristol.
Travel time from Taunton to Cribbs is about two hours.
Loooooong delays still
There must be some bored children this lunchtime because if you’re heading across south on the M5 there are still delays of 60 minutes from junction 14 (for Thornbury) and junction 20 (for Clevedon).
